Beauty & Style | Friday 14 October, 2016 6:43 am |

 The Huawei Arab Fashion Week (HAFW) wrapped up a star studded five days with some of the most recognised names in fashion. The biannual industry event that is presented by title sponsor Huawei and managed by the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), offered a program of established and emerging designers who showcased their talent throughout the week, and was attended by some of the biggest names in the industry, including HE Prof. Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council and Cavaliere Mario Boselli, Honorary President of the Arab Fashion Council and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) who officially inaugurated the event, in front of a full audience including the United Nations for Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and participating international institutions.

 

Highlights of the program included 3 shows solely on ‘Ready-Couture’ kid’s whose proceeds were dedicated to charity, a full day introducing the first dedicated menswear shows in the region, and 3 days featuring womenswear. Daily theoretical and technical workshops were held in partnership with the American University in the Emirates (AUE), in addition to designers’ showrooms and exhibitions featuring labels from around the world, and a chance to meet buyers, manufacturers and industry experts.

 

Returning to the event and the first headliner of the HAFW was Emirati designer Lamya Abedin, with her label Queen of Spades inspired by fairground, circus and Alice in Wonderland motifs. The program also presented labels by prominent regional designers including Sheikha Alanoud Alattiya (Qatar), Arwa Al Ammari (KSA), Aiisha Ramadan (Lebanon), and Nicolas Chahine (Lebanon), as well as international headliners Ingie Chalhoub (France), Ilse Jara (Paraguay), and Cristiano Burani (Italy) amongst others. This edition of the HAFW also exclusively introduced the first Emirati model, Rafeea Al-Hajsi to the fashion audiences, who walked in Aiisha Ramadan’s show on day four. Making his Middle Eastern debut was New York celebrity designer and CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) member LaQuan Smith, who lists A-listers Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna amongst others, as his clientele.

 

HAFW also saw special guest appearances by singer and YouTube sensation Adam Saleh, pop youth singer Harris J and American producer, rapper, songwriter, and actor, Silento, who hosted a meet and greet for fans on day four. On the final and fifth day, they performed Silento’s popular single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the Red Carpet Gala Dinner Fashion Awards where Saleh was recognized as 'Best Arab Influencer' and announced as Honorary Ambassador for AFC.

 

Hosted at the spectacular Meydan Hotel, the HAFW aims to establish the UAE and Dubai, as the destination for "ready-couture" and the fifth fashion capital after New York, London, Milan and Paris. 

 

HAFW aims to promote and realize the dreams of designers from the Arab world and beyond by providing them with an exclusive opportunity to showcase their creativity. At the same time, the mandate of the AFC looks to pave the way for international designers within the region who are looking to make their mark on Middle Eastern fashion.